Everything you wanted to know about Arabic mehndi designs

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Everything you wanted to know about Arabic mehndi designs

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TNN

Updated: May 17, 2017, 16:29 IST

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While traditional mehndi is synonymous with Indian weddings, many modern Indian brides have started opting for contemporary versions of mehndi. And, the most popular one out of the significant ones is Arabic Mehndi!

Having its roots in Persia, Arabic mehndi designs have come of age and have taken the world by storm with Asian, Middle Eastern and European women loving it alike. This type of mehndi style is most popular in Arab countries like UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, hence the name ‘Arabic Mehndi’.

What began as a temporary form of skin decoration, soon turned into a wedding tradition and since wedding is considered to be the biggest event of an individual’s life, mehndi soon found its way into every household.

The art of mehndi or henna originated some 5000 years in Asia some parts of Middle East. Interestingly, some claim the art to be over 9000 years old. Mehndi came in use initially because of its natural cooling properties and was basically used by people living in deserts to cool down their bodies. But the entire process of applying mehndi has always been a task since it came into being and that’s the reason why modern variations of mehndi became so popular with time. Another reason for the popularity of Arabic mehndi designs is the fact that they are not tough to replicate on hands, thanks to the simplicity of designs.

Features of Arabic mehndi designs1. The Arabic style of applying mehndi is free flowing in nature and majority of designs comprise patterns of leaves, vines, birds and flowers. While Indian mehndi or henna is applied covering the entire hand, Arabic mehndi is less intricate. It usually focuses on the palm unlike Indian mehndi which flows through the wrists.

2. The Arabic mehndi design showcases scattered patterns, making the designs seem more spaced out if compared to other mehndi designs. Arabic mehndi designs also include vines and dots that are nothing less than mesmerizing.

3. Arabic mehndi designs also include colours and additives like radium stickers, diamonds and sparkle that provide them with an edge over the mundane mehndi designs.

4. Arabic mehndi designs are often chosen by women who like to go minimalist and that’s the reason for their mass popularity.

5. These designs consume less amount of mehndi and are easily dried which means that you don’t have to wait overnight for the mehndi to dry!

The story behind Arabic mehndiWhile mehndi was traditionally used as a form of decoration mainly for brides, years later the application of mehndi became popular with absolutely everybody and women started applying it on occasions other than weddings like on Diwali and Eid. The craze for Arabic mehndi started with bold patterns that used jet-black henna. This unique mehndi style has evolved quickly and now offers many variations. One includes designs that ditch intricacy for bold designs, using thick lines and several big and small sized muffs, which are filled in a shaded format (similar to how colour is spread using a brush). This design is adorned with thick borders to make the shaded portions stand out effectively. When dried and removed, the mehndi appears to have three-four colour variations like black, maroon, dark and light orange, as a result of the shading effect given to it. Other designs include motifs that are used in Arabic architecture.

The importance of bling in Arabic mehndi designsIf you are one of those who like bling, then the glitter, sequins and gem work mehndi will help add glamour to your design. Another variation to this pattern is glitter mehndi that can be applied with glitter cones that contain henna. These come in various metallic shades for that shimmering look. This style is ideal for those who would like to be adorned, but don't want a long-lasting effect.

Types of Arabic mehndis1. Indo-Arabic mehndi designs

An amalgamation of the simple Arabic style and the intricate Indian style, the Indo-Arabic comprises a bold outline filled with a detailed traditional Indian pattern.

2. Arabic tattoo mehndi

For years, people relied on mehndi artists to replicate exquisite Arabic designs on their palms, but with the popularity of internet and the mehndi variations available across the world, Arabic tattoos have found their way into the vanity cases of many women who swear by mehndi. Easy to apply, time saving, these Arabic tattoos are stickers with pre-designed Arabic mehndi art, that can be simply pasted on the palms. Though not long-lasting, these are perfect for women who are in a hurry and want a beautiful design adorning their palms.

Mehndi seasons in IndiaThough mehndi season in India runs throughout the year, thanks to the big fat Indian weddings, there are certain festivals which focus on application of mehndi in a big way, namely – Karva Chauth Eid, Hariyali Teej, Gudiya and Raksha Bandhan.

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